Wall Mounted Shower Rack

ABSTRACT

A shower rack fastened on the wall above the shower enclosure for more secure mounting that can allow a second shower rack to mount below the wall mounted shower rack. Accordingly, a shower rack that can be disassembled and can be transported with a mostly flat package and can be assembled without the need for tools.

BACKGROUND Description of Prior Art

Currently there are a lot of commercially available shower organizers or shower racks. Shower racks hold things like shampoo bottle, conditioner bottle, skin scrubber, shaver or soap that are usually needed while taking a shower in an enclosure. Most shower enclosures are made of fiberglass or tiles for waterproof purposes. Hence, securely mounting the shower rack in the shower enclosure is not as simple as drilling a hole or fastening the shower rack with a screw or nail. Drilling a hole in tile or fiberglass materials for screws or hammering nails is not ideal since the hole will be hard to cover up once the hole is no longer needed and it might make the waterproof material less waterproof. That is why most shower racks are either hung on the shower head pipe, mounted using suction cups, mounted using adhesive strips or mounted using a pole extending from the ceiling to the shower floor. These types of mountings are loosely attached and are not as secure as nailing or screwing to the wall.

There are a lot of patents that describes different types of shower racks with different ways of mounting in the shower enclosure. An example of this is the shower shelf described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,387,811 which shows a shower rack that hangs from the shower pipe. Another one is U.S. Pat. No. 7,931,161 which describes a wall organizer for the shower that is attached to the wall via adhesive strips. In U.S. Pat. No. 7,938,279, a wall hanging bathroom organizer is described that is mounted using over the wall hooks. Lastly, in U.S. Pat. No. 9,107,495, it describes an adjustable pole caddy which is just a shower rack that stays in place using a pole that extends from the shower floor to the ceiling. These are just some of the many patents that list different mounting options for shower racks.

Unlike the present invention some of the current shower racks are usually rigidly assembled so they are bulky for transport and shipping. Not all are also as expandable and cannot easily add an additional rack to increase the holding capacity with using just one set of mounting.

SUMMARY

In accordance with the present invention, a shower rack for holding items in a shower enclosure with a secure way of mounting to the wall above the shower enclosure, with an option to mount another shower rack below the wall mounted shower rack, having a generally flat shape when disassembled for easier transport and can easily be assembled without tools.

Objects and Advantages

Accordingly, it is the object of this invention to provide a shower rack that is securely mounted on the wall above the shower enclosure.

Another object of this invention is to make an easy to expand shower rack that can increase in holding capacity using just one set of shower rack wall mounting.

Yet another object of this invention is to have a shower rack with a generally flat package size when disassembled to lower transport cost and at the same time to have an easy to assemble shower rack that can be assembled without the need for tools or fasteners.

Further objects, features, and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the following description when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings which show, for purposes of illustration only, a preferred and an alternative embodiment of the present invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an angled view of the preferred embodiment in a shower enclosure

FIG. 2 is a closer angled front view of the preferred embodiment

FIG. 3 is an angled front view of different mounting versions

FIG. 4 is an angled front view of the preferred embodiment when disassembled

FIG. 5 is a close-up view of the connections between a vertical frame member and the two horizontal platforms

FIG. 6 is a close-up view of the connection between a vertical frame member and a middle frame member

FIG. 7 is a close-up view of the connections between a horizontal platform and the two middle frame members

FIG. 8 is an angled front view of two instances of the preferred embodiment with one mounted on the other

FIG. 9 is an angled view of an alternative embodiment

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF INVENTION

In FIG. 1 , the preferred embodiment of the shower rack 3 is shown mounted on the wall 2 above the shower enclosure 1. Walls 2 in shower rooms are usually made of concrete, gypsum board or wood and can be conventionally nailed or drilled and screwed into. The shower enclosure 1 is usually made of waterproof material that preferably should not be drilled, screwed or nailed into for mounting things since the hole can potentially minimize its waterproof qualities and will be difficult to cover up in the event the hole is no longer needed. The mounting arrangement shown in FIG. 1 secures the shower rack 1 to a more solid material while part of the shower rack where wet items are held are still located within the waterproof part of the shower enclosure 2. The wall mount for shower rack 3 also takes advantage of the ledge 41, formed by the shower enclosure 1 meeting the wall 2 so that the mount is not only supported by the fasteners secured to the wall 2 but also by the ledge 41.

FIG. 2 is a closer view of the preferred embodiment showing the different components of the shower rack. Wall plates 6 and 4 have holes for fastening to the wall above the shower enclosure using screws or nails. Wall plates 6 and 4 have extended mounting members 7 and 5 that have teeth with gaps between them to allow varying placement of the shower rack relative to the wall and based on the thickness of the shower enclosure. Accordingly, the wall plates 6 and 4 with extended mounting members 7 and 5 sit on the ledge 41 formed by the shower enclosure meeting the wall, for additionally supporting extended mounting members 7 and 5 as it extends past the ledge 41. Two loops 16 and 17 are hung on the extended mounting members 7 and 5 with loops 16 and 17 sitting inside one of the gaps between the teeth along the extended mounting members 7 and 5. This will be shown in more detail in FIG. 3 . These two loops 16 and 17 are the top parts of vertical frame members 8 and 9 for hanging the vertical frame members 8 and 9 on the two extended mounting members 7 and 5. The appropriate gap should be chosen for hanging loops 16 and 17 along the extended mounting members 7 and 5 so that the vertical frame members 8 and 9 can clear and be generally parallel to the shower enclosure wall. For holding items, horizontal platforms 10 and 11 are tight fitted into the vertical frame members 8 and 9 via grooves and protrusions in the horizontal platforms 10 and 11 that match the grooves and protrusions in the vertical frame members 8 and 9. Horizontal platform 10 is in between and supported by vertical frame members 8 and 9 and located in the middle of the shower rack for holding big items such as shampoo, conditioner and body wash bottles. Middle frame members 21 and 22 tight fit into matching grooves, protrusions and holes in horizontal platform 10 and vertical frame members 8 and 9. This will be shown in more detail in FIGS. 6 and 7 . Middle frame members 21 and 22 add rigidity to the perpendicular connection between the vertical frame members 8 and 9 and the horizontal platform 10. Middle frame members 21 and 22 also act as rails for the big items held in horizontal platform 10. Horizontal platform 11 is at the bottom part of the shower rack for smaller items such as soap, razor, brush or scrubber. Horizontal platforms 10 and 11 have grills to allow water to drain. Suction cups 12 and 13 are attached to vertical frame member 8 and 9 via tight fit attaching points. Pushing the suction cups to the shower enclosure to make it stick prevents the shower rack from swaying and also keeps the shower rack from making noise when items are removed and placed on the shower rack. FIG. 2 also shows hooks 14 and 15 at the bottom of the shower rack for mounting another instance of the preferred embodiment to double the item holding capacity of the shower racks using only one set of wall mountings.

FIG. 3 shows the wall mount in more detail with some alternative versions. First one on the left is the one used in the preferred embodiment which is the loop 16 that is hanging and seated in one of the gaps between the teeth along extended mounting member 7 which is attached to wall mounting plate 6. The second version from the left uses a hook 32 instead of a loop to hang on extended mounting member 31 and sits on one of the gaps between the teeth along extended member 31. The third from the left version uses a pin 33 to fix a hook 34, which has a hole, to one of the holes along extended mounting member 35. The fourth from the left version has a hook 37 with a threaded hole and a set screw 36 for fixing the location of the hook 37 along the extended mounting member 38. The fifth from the left version has a hex nut 40 with threads that match the threads on a threaded extended mounting member 39 for affixing it along the length of threaded extended mounting member 39. The sixth from the left version is just a simple horizontal bar extended mounting member 43 that has a tight fit with loop 42 so that friction keeps loop 42 stationary or affixed along the length of horizontal bar extended mounting member 43. Lastly the rightmost version has a loop 44 that can slide along an upwardly angled extended member 45. With this version, the weight of the shower rack and the shower rack hitting the shower enclosure will fix the location of loop 44 along extended member 45.

FIG. 4 shows the preferred embodiment when disassembled. It shows the grooves and holes in the parts to facilitate tight fit connections between the parts and for connecting to a wall. Holes in wall mount plate 6 and 4 allow for screwing or nailing to a wall. The hole in loops 16 and 17 allow extended mounting member 7 and 5 to pass thru, and the gaps between the teeth on extended mounting member 7 and 5 allow loops 16 and 17 to sit in one of the gaps. Grooves in vertical frame members 8 and 9 and holes in the middle of horizontal platform 10 allow middle frame members 21 and 22 to attach to them. Matching grooves in vertical frame members 8 and 9 and in horizontal platforms 10 and 11 allow horizontal platforms 10 and 11 to sit securely between vertical frame members 8 and 9. Attachment points on vertical frame members 8 and 9 allow tight fit connection of suction cups 12 and 13. Since most parts have tight fit connections, no tools are needed to assemble the shower rack. All these parts are generally flat in shape and can be packaged flatly for lower shipping costs if calculated by volume. These parts can also be produced in plastic which will make them lighter for further reducing the shipping cost if calculated by weight. Plastic material would also be suited in a wet environment since it is waterproof.

FIG. 5 shows a closer view of the connection between a vertical frame member and the horizontal platforms. It shows horizontal platform 10 having grooves 57 and 58 to hold on parts of vertical frame member 9. Horizontal platform 11 also has grooves 56 and 59 to attach to vertical frame member 9. Vertical frame member 9, on the other hand, has ledges 60 and 61 for supporting horizontal platforms 10 and 11 against gravity. This is also how the other vertical frame member holds horizontal platforms 10 and 11.

FIG. 6 shows a closer view of the connection between a vertical frame member and a middle frame member. Vertical frame member 8 has a groove 52 which middle frame member 21 sits into to hold middle frame member 21, while protrusion 51 on middle frame member 21 holds vertical frame member 8. This type of connection is similarly done in other places where the vertical frame members connect to the middle frame members.

FIG. 7 shows a closer view of the connection between the two middle frame members and a horizontal platform. Horizontal platform 10 has a rectangular hole 53 through which a protrusion 54 on middle frame member 21 can tight fit into and another rectangular hole 56 through which a protrusion 55 on middle frame member 22 can tight fit into.

Operation

FIG. 1 shows how the preferred embodiment of the shower rack 3 is used, by mounting on the wall 2 above shower enclosure 1 from which it can hold items within the shower enclosure. Aside from being able to hold items for shower use, the preferred embodiment can also be used as mounting for a second shower rack. FIG. 8 shows two shower racks 3 and 20 with the top one mounted on a wall and the bottom one mounted below the wall mounted one. Shower rack 3 is mounted on a wall and its bottom hooks 14 and 15 allow loops 18 and 19 of another shower rack 20 to hang on them. This makes the shower racks expandable using only one set of wall mountings.

Alternative Embodiments

FIG. 9 shows an alternative embodiment of the shower rack. It shows a shower rack with only one wall mount plate 24 with an extended mounting member 25 to hang vertical frame member 27 via loop 26. It only has one horizontal platform 28 that attaches to vertical frame member 27 via matching grooves between them. Suction cup 30 mounts to an attachment point 29 on vertical frame member 27 to keep the alternative embodiment stable in a shower enclosure while it is hanging from a wall above the shower enclosure.

CONCLUSION, RAMIFICATIONS AND SCOPE

Thus, the descriptions above provide a shower rack that is more securely mounted than the prior art. By mounting using conventional fasteners to a wall above the shower enclosure and further affixed by suction cups it is more securely mounted as compared to mounting via suction cups only, mounting on the shower pipe, mounting via adhesive strips or mounting via a floor to ceiling pole. It can be assembled without tools by connecting the parts using matching holes, grooves and protrusion with tight fit connections and can be disassembled flat for easier transport and for lower shipping cost. A second rack can be mounted at the bottom of a first wall mounted shower rack to increase the capacity without having to mount the second shower rack to the wall.

Several versions of the wall mounting and affixing mechanisms along the extended member were shown but the present invention is not limited to those versions and they are just examples of different ways of hanging and locating a vertical frame member to a wall mount as described in the present invention. The members and components of the shower rack were also shown in the preferred and alternative embodiment as having a tight fit connection to allow assembly and disassembly but the present invention's parts and components are not limited to that arrangement and can already be permanently connected as one big piece while still having vertical frame sections and horizontal platform sections. The tight fit connection between the components can also be substituted by fastened connections, while the hooks or loops described in the present invention can also be substituted with clamps, clips, hook and eye, fasteners, clasps, or similar connection mechanisms. 

1. A shower rack for holding items used in a shower enclosure comprising: a. at least one wall mounting plate, each having at least one hole for fastening to a wall above said shower enclosure b. attached to each wall mounting plate is an extended mounting member that will be extending away from said wall when said wall mounting plate is fastened to said wall c. at least one horizontal platform for holding said items used in a shower enclosure d. at least one vertical frame member supporting said at least one horizontal platform and each having a connecting means for attaching to said extended mounting member e. and at least one locating means for adjustable placement of said connecting means on said vertical frame member along the length of said extended mounting member to allow said vertical frame member to be located closer to or farther away from the wall to adjust to the thickness of the shower enclosure.
 2. The shower rack in claim 1 further comprising at least one attachment means for attaching at least one suction cup to provide additional affixing of said shower rack onto said shower enclosure
 3. The shower rack in claim 1 further comprising at least one bottom mounting means compatible with said connecting means on said at least one vertical frame member whereby one of said shower rack can be mounted on said wall above said shower enclosure and said connecting means of said at least one vertical frame member of another of said shower rack can be mounted to said at least one bottom mounting means of said wall mounted shower rack to expand the item holding capacity using only one set of wall mounting.
 4. The shower rack in claim 1 wherein said connecting means on said at least one vertical frame member is either a loop or a hook and said shower rack further comprising at least one bottom hook that said loop or hook on said at least one vertical frame member can attach to whereby one of said shower rack can be mounted on said wall above said shower enclosure and said loop or hook of said at least one vertical frame member of another of said shower rack can be mounted on said at least one bottom hook on said wall mounted shower rack to expand the item holding capacity using only one set of wall mounting.
 5. The shower rack in claim 1 wherein said at least one horizontal platform and said at least one vertical frame member attaches to each other using a plurality of matching grooves, protrusions or holes on said at least one horizontal platform and on said at least one vertical frame member such that said shower rack can be assembled and disassembled without tools.
 6. The shower rack in claim 1 wherein said at least one horizontal platform and said at least one vertical frame member are both generally flat and removably attached to each other such that said shower rack can be disassembled and transported in a relatively flat package.
 7. The shower rack in claim 1 wherein said at least one vertical frame member connecting means is a hook or a loop and said locating means are teeth on said extended mounting member with gaps between said teeth to restrain said hook or loop when said hook or loop is seated in one of said gaps between said teeth.
 8. The shower rack in claim 1 wherein said locating means are holes along said extended mounting member and a pin that can be inserted in said holes along said extended mounting member and said vertical frame member connecting means is a hook or loop with a hole that said pin can also be inserted into such that said pin can fix said hook or loop along said extended mounting member by inserting said pin through said hole on said hook or loop and through one of said holes on said extended mounting member.
 9. The shower rack in claim 1 wherein said vertical frame member connecting means is a hook or loop and said locating means is a threaded hole and a set screw on said hook or loop to fix the location of said hook or loop along said extended mounting member by tightening said set screw.
 10. A shower rack for holding items used in a shower enclosure comprising: a. at least one wall mounting member, each comprising a flat plate with at least one hole to allow fastening to a wall above said shower enclosure and an extended mounting member with teeth and having gaps between said teeth b. at least one horizontal platform for supporting said items used in a shower enclosure c. at least one vertical frame member to support said at least one horizontal platform, each vertical frame member having a hook or loop that can hang on said extended mounting member and sit into any of said gaps between said teeth along said extended mounting member thereby allowing the variable mounting of said at least one vertical frame member along the length of said at least one extended mounting member to be able to adjust to different shower enclosures with varying thickness.
 11. The shower rack in claim 10 further comprising at least one attachment means for attaching at least one suction cup to provide additional affixing of said shower rack onto said shower enclosure
 12. The shower rack in claim 10 further comprising at least one bottom hook at the bottom of said shower rack compatible with said hook or loop on said at least one vertical frame member such that one of said shower rack can be mounted on said wall above said shower enclosure and said loop or hook of said at least one vertical frame member of another of said shower rack can be mounted on said at least one bottom hook of said wall mounted shower rack to extend the item holding capacity using only one set of wall mounting.
 13. The shower rack in claim 10 wherein said at least one horizontal platform and said at least one vertical frame member attaches to each other using a plurality of matching grooves, protrusions or holes on said at least one horizontal platform and on said at least one vertical frame member such that said shower rack can be assembled and disassembled without tools.
 14. The shower rack in claim 10 wherein said at least one horizontal platform and said at least one vertical frame member are both generally flat and removably attached to each other such that said shower rack can be disassembled and transported in a relatively flat package.
 15. A shower rack for holding items used in a shower enclosure comprising: a. at least one wall mounting plate, each having at least one hole for fastening to a wall above said shower enclosure b. attached to each wall mounting plate is an extended mounting member that will be extending away from said wall when said wall mounting plate is fastened to said wall c. at least one horizontal platform for holding said items used in a shower enclosure d. at least one vertical frame member supporting said at least one horizontal platform and having an affixing means for variably attaching along the length of said extended mounting member to allow hanging of said vertical frame member closer to or away from the shower encloser to clear the shower enclosure.
 16. The shower rack in claim 15 further comprising at least one bottom mounting means compatible with said affixing means on said vertical frame member whereby one of said shower rack can be mounted on said wall above said shower enclosure and said affixing means on said at least one vertical frame member of another of said shower rack can be mounted to said at least one bottom mounting means on said wall mounted shower rack to extend the item holding capacity using one set of wall mounting.
 17. The shower rack in claim 15 wherein said affixing means for attaching said vertical frame member to said extended mounting member is a top loop or top hook and said shower rack further comprising a least one bottom hook such that one of said shower rack can be mounted on said wall and said top loop or top hook of said at least one vertical frame member of another of said shower rack can be mounted on said bottom hook of said wail mounted shower rack to extend the item holding capacity using one set of wall mounting.
 18. The shower rack in claim 15 wherein said affixing means for attaching said vertical frame member to said extended mounting member is a loop or hook that has a tight fit with said extended mounting member keeping it stationary along the length of said extended mounting member.
 19. The shower rack in claim 15 wherein said affixing means for attaching said vertical frame member to said extended mounting member is a loop or hook and wherein said extended mounting member is angled upward from said wall mounting plate and said loop or hook can slide on said extending mounting member such that the weight of said shower rack and the contents of said shower rack will pull and slide said loop or hook downwards along said angled extended mounting member while the shower enclosure wall prevents said shower rack and attached said look or hoop from further sliding down said angled extended mounting member thereby allowing adjustable mounting of said shower rack on different shower enclosures with different thickness.
 20. The shower rack in claim 15 wherein said vertical frame member affixing means is a threaded nut and wherein said extended mounting member further comprising a matching thread to said threaded nut to be able to rotate said threaded nut on said threaded extended mounting member and vary the position of said threaded nut along said threaded extended mounting member.
 21. The shower rack in claim 15 further comprising at least one attachment means for attaching at least one suction cup to provide additional affixing of said shower rack onto said shower enclosure
 22. The shower rack in claim 15 wherein said at least one horizontal platform and said at least one vertical frame member attaches to each other using a plurality of matching grooves, protrusions or holes on said at least one horizontal platform and on said at least one vertical frame member such that said shower rack can be assembled and disassembled without tools.
 23. The shower rack in claim 15 wherein said at least one horizontal platform and said at least one vertical frame member are both generally flat and removably attached to each other such that said shower rack can be disassembled and transported in a relatively flat package. 